La Isabela Colonial Settlement

La Isabela

Dominican Republic · Puerto Plata

SettlementUnknown
Approximate period1,493 CE — 1,498 CEEarly Spanish colonial period See on the map ↓

In brief

La Isabela is an early Spanish colonial settlement founded during Columbus's second voyage. Excavations have revealed the layout of the walled town and the nearby production and agricultural areas.

What was found?

  • 1Remains of Kolomb's residence

    The remains of the residence, built of compacted earth and dressed limestone, have survived. They document the materials and location of the settlement's governor's residence.

  • 2Fortified storehouse

    The outer walls and internal post positions of the storehouse known as the Alhóndiga have been identified. The structure helps explain the colony's arrangements for storing supplies and protection.

  • 3Church foundations

    The church foundations are among the settlement's principal stone structural remains. They show the place of religious institutions in the colony's founding organisation.

  • 4Remains of ceramic production

    An area associated with ceramic production and a pottery kiln have been identified near the walled settlement. They document local production activities in the colony.

What does it point to?

The residence, storehouse, church and production areas show that Spanish settlers sought to organise administration, religion and the economy together. Production and agricultural areas near the main settlement indicate that the colony's life extended beyond the walled section.

What did it teach us?

  1. Revealed the remains of the principal buildings mentioned in written sources and their spatial relationships.
  2. Showed that a second settlement associated with ceramic production, agriculture and animal husbandry existed beside the walled centre.
  3. The building foundations documented that the settlement had a dispersed layout rather than a regular grid plan.

Record

Culture
Spanish colonial society
Team / historical
Kathleen Deagan and José María Cruxent; Florida Museum of Natural History and partner institutions
Coordinates
19.8880°, -71.0803°

Sources

  1. floridamuseum.ufl.edu
  2. whc.unesco.org
  3. floridamuseum.ufl.edu

Nearby excavations


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12.000

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